Centrifugal separator.



No. 736,978. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903..

H. B. KEIPER. CENTRIFUGAL S'EPARATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1901.

N0 MODEL, 2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

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gluvauhaz No. 736,978. I PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903. I H. B. KEIPER.

GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11I 1901. no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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I Qvi hwoae $6 y W 7 1 No: He u YNE MORE 5 PETERS CO TON B UNITED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

A PATENT OFFICE.

CENTRIFU GAL SEP-ARATOR,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,978, dated. August 25, 1903. Application filed September 11,1901. stun No. 75,091. (Ne model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. KEIPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchaswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to centrifugal separators; and it consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide means for'subjecting fresh or whole milk to successive skimmings at one continuous operation and discharging the resultant cream of all the skimmings simultaneously with the discharge of the blue or skimmed milk.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which is much more reliable and effective in use than many others hitherto employed and also to simplify the construction of the machine, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture and working thereof.

These and additional objects I attain by the means substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation of a centrifugalseparating-machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my inven: tion, and Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the bowl with the cover or cap-piece removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the internal structure of the machine or apparatus which forms the different skimming or separating compartments or chambers. Fig. tis asimilar View, in part section, showing a slight modification. Fig. 5 is a sectional detailplan view to more clearly indicate the construction of certain parts.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ asuitabie rotatable bowl that is provided with an internal structure comprising a number of division-plates or partitions dividing the interior of said bowl into different skimming chambers or compartments, the latter being in communication through suitable passages in said plates or partitions and suitable means being provided for the upward travel and discharge of the cream resulting from the different skimmings. A central feed-tube is employed having outlets at or near its lower end for the escape of the fresh or whole milk into the first or lowermost skimming or separating chamber, and suitable means are provided in the cover or cap-piece of the bowl for the final outlet or discharge of both the cream and skimmed milk into suitable receptacles which may be provided therefor. The machine is simple in construction, effective in operation, and is capable of different embodiments, as will hereinafter appear.

Specific reference being had to the accompanying drawings, A represents an outer stationary casing, in which is located the rotatable bowl B, mounted upon suitable ballbearings Ct b in'the bottom of the casing and having a central stem or shaftcat the bottom, to which suitable means (not shown) maybe connected for operating said bowl. The wall of the bowl is recessed at the upper edge and threaded at d to receive a corresponding inner thread formed on the cover or cap-piece O, the said cover or cap-piece screwing tightly thereon, so as to prevent escape of the liquid. Thefsaid cover or cap-piece C is formed at different points with escape-passages f for the blue or skimmed milk, and the same is also formed with an enlarged central opening g, into which is fitted the end of a suitable supply-pipe (not shown) leading from any suitable source of supply of fresh or whole milk. A central feed-tube D is located in the bowl B, and in the wall of the central opening g at any suitable point is a vertical cream-passage h, that is controlled by means of a screwplug or valve t',working in an opening in the side of the cover or cap-piece O and abutting the side of said central tube D when closed. The said central feed-tube D at its-upper end projects into and snugly fits the said opening g, while the lower end thereof rests upon the bottom of the bowl and is preferably enlarged at 76, so as to form an annular projection or flange Z, for the purpose hereinafter described. Escape-passages it are formed in the side of said tube at or nearits lowerend. Surrounding the said central feed-tube at suitable distances apart'are the division-plates or parti- IOU tions E, which separate or divide the interior of the bowl B into a number of skimming or separating chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, the bottom or lowermost chamber 1 being preferably somewhat greater in height than the others. Any number of said division-plates or partitions can be employed,and consequently any number of skimming or separating chambers, and each plate or partition is formed or provided with curved or other shaped passages m, through which the milk passes from one chamber to the other in the operation of successively skimming or separating the cream. Any number of said passages on maybe employed, and they are preferably arranged as near the axes of the division-plates or partitions as possible in order to secure the best results. Each plate or partition E is formed with a central opening a. larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the central feed-tube D, and said plates are held in position upon or about the tube by means of ribs or projections 0 in such manner as to form coinciding ducts or channels 0 for the passage of the cream in its ascent or climbing around the outer sides of the said feed-tube. Said ribs or projections 0 may extend practically the full length of the feedtube, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) beginning at near the upper end and ending at the flange Z, upon which latter they rest, or they may comprise simple lugsp, (see Fig. 4,) each of a height about equalling the thickness of the said division plates or disks. However they may be formed a suitable ring or collar q is preferably provided around the feed-tube at the upper end, both as an abutment for the inner flange '1' of the cover or cap-piece and to insure the complete closing of said opening around the tube. Preferably I construct the said ribs or projections o as in Figs. 1 and 3 and unite the collar (1 therewith in skeleton form, and then slip the structure down over the central feed-tube D. It is immaterial, however, whether this construction be resorted to or whether said ribs or projections and said collar-are formed on the sides of the tube itself. The division-plates or partitions E are secured at the proper heights in any suitable manner, and they are preferably so disposed that the passages m thereof are brought directly in line or coincident with each other vertically, although this is not essential. Said division-plates or partitions are of a diameter equaling the internal diameter of the bowl, and located directly beneath each of the said plates is an annular disk t of a diameter somewhat less than the plates and preferably, though not essentially, inclined onvits upper surface and hollow or concaved on its under surface. Said disks are preferably formed rigidly with the division-plates or partitions; but it is immaterial in What manner they are supported in position. They are each likewise formed with a central opening it by which to surround the feed-tnbe and permitof the ascent or climbing of the cream in like manner, as already'described with reference to said division-plates or partitions.

The apparatus being constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described, the operation is as follows: The fresh or whole milk flows into the central feed-tube D and passes down the same and escapes into the lowermost separating or skimming chamber 1 through escape-passages 7c, where it is immediately subjected to the action of the centrifugal force generated by a rapid rotation of the bowl. The skimmed or blue milk is thrown outwardly against the inner side of the wall of the bowl, while the cream flows inwardly toward thecenter of the apparatus. The skimmed milk being thus obstructed is compelled to move upwardly, though still having an outward tendency, and as it reaches or comes into contact with the under side of the first or lowermost division-plate or partition E it is again obstructed and is compelled to again seek the center of the machine, (passing between lowermost plate or partition E and the lowermost disk 25,) where it escapes upwardly through the passages min said plate and passes from the first skimming or separating chamber into the second. Thesameactionoccursinthenextchamher, and so on. As the skimmed or blue milk is thus continuously ascending the action of the disks t is to spread the same outwardly, and thus prevent any admixture thereof with the cream,which meanwhile is climbing or ascending the sides of the feed-tubeD. On reaching the uppermost skimming or separating chamber 5 the skimmed or blue milk escapes through the openings or passages f in the cover or cap-piece C, while simultaneously with such escape the cream escapes through the passage h. The discharge of the cream can be regulated in an obvious manner by the valve 2', and it is evident that the ascent of the cream around the sides of the feedtube D takes place simultaneously with the gradual upward passage of the milk from one skimming or separating chamber to the other. It is apparent that I am not limited to the precise details of construction herein shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl having a central feed-tube therein and transversely divided interiorly into a number of independent separating-chambers, which open around and a sufficient distance from the feed-tube to provide a central cream-passage, and milk-passages between the adjacent chambers located intermediate said feedtube and the periphery of the bowl, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl having a central feed-tube therein, and a surrounding series of transverse partitions of a diameter equaling the interior diameter of the bowl, said partitions having central openings suificiently larger than the tube to leave a central cream-passage and havingintermediate milk-passages therein, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl having a central feed-tube therein, and a surrounding series of transverse partitions of a diameter equaling the interior diameter of the bowl, said partitions having central openings sufficiently larger than the tube to leave a central cream-passage and having intermediate milk-passages therein, with a series of disks interposed between said partitions and having similar central openings and diametersless than the interior-diameter of the bowl, said disks being adapted to deflect the milk toward the periphery of the bowl, substantially as described.

4:. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl having a central feed-tube therein and transversely divided interiorly into a number of independent separating-chambers, which open around and a sufficient distance from the tube to provide a central cream-passage, milk-passages between adjacent chambers located intermediate said tube and the periphery of the bowl, and means for deflecting the milk in each chamber toward the periphery of the bowl before it passes to the next chamber, substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl havinga central feed-tube therein, a surrounding series of transverse partitions of a diameter equaling the interior diameter of the bowl, said partitions having central openings sufficiently larger than the tube to leave a central cream-passage and having intermediate or surrounding milk-passages, and inclined annular disks of less diameter and having similar central openings, each located beneath a partition with its inner periphery or apex adjacent thereto and inclosed within the milk passage or passages thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl having a central feed-tube therein, a series of transverse partitions spanning the liquid-space of the bowl and of a diameter equaling the interior diameter thereof, said partitions having intermediate milk-passages therein and a series of disks of less diameter, each located adjacent to one of said partitions, said partitions and disks having registering openings around the feed-tube, substantially as described.

7. A centrifugal creamer, comprising a rotatable bowl, a central feed-tube therein, a series of divisionplates surrounding said tube of a diameter equaling the interior diameter of the bowl and each having a milkpassage therein and a central opening larger in diameter than said tube, a disk located beneath each division-plate and having a similar central opening, and means for sustaining said plates and disks in proper position within the liquid-space of the bowl, substantially as described.

8. A centrifugal creamercomprising a rotatable bowl, a central feed-tube therein having passages at or near its lower end for the escape into the bowl of fresh or whole milk, division-plates surrounding said tube and of equal diameter with the interior of the bowl, each plate having milk-passages therein, and having a central opening'larger in diameter than said tube, a disk located directly beneath each division-plate, and having a similar central opening about the tube, and projections between said tube and the openings in said division-plates, substantially as described.

9. A centrifugal creamer comprising a rotatable bowl, a central feed-tube therein for fresh or Whole milk, a series of plates surrounding said tube; the diameters of said plates being equal to the internal diameter of the bowl, so as to divide the bowl into separate and independent skimming-chambers, said plates each having a central opening of greater diameter than the external diameter of the tube, and a disk located beneath each of said plates having a similar opening therein, and means between the tube and the walls of the openings in the plate for maintaining the latter in position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. KEIPER.

Witnesses:

M. G. SWAN, J. GUY ESHLEMAN. 

